Trent Reinsmith
- What: Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Islanders
- Date: Tuesday, March 7, 2023
- Location: UBS Arena in Elmont, New York
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ESPN+
Two NHL Eastern Conference teams in the hunt for a wild card spot for the 2023 NHL playoffs meet tonight on Long Island when the New York Islanders host the Buffalo Sabres.
The Islanders are in the top spot in the wild card hunt with a 32-25-8 record (72 points) on the 2023 NHL season. Buffalo trails New York in the wild card race by four points and a 32-25-4 record. The Sabres have four games in hand on the Islanders.
New York’s home record this year is 19-11-3, while Buffalo brings a 19-9-2 record to UBS Arena. The Islanders are 5-2-3 in their past 10 games. Meanwhile, the Sabres are 6-4-0 in their 10 most recent games.
Before we look at the betting breakdown for tonight’s NHL matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Islanders, check out our guide to betting on the 2023 Stanley Cup and our tips for betting on the NHL.
Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Islanders picks for March 7, 2023
| Teams |  |  |
| Buffalo Sabres | +140 | +145 |
| New York Islanders | -160 | -165 |
Buffalo Sabres breakdown
The 25-year-old Tage Thompson leads the Buffalo Sabres in many ways this season. Sixty-one games into the 2023 NHL season, the former first-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, has set career highs in points (82), goals (42), assists (40), power-play goals (18), power-play assists (12) and game-winning goals (6). Thompson is also on pace to set career-high marks in shooting percentage, time on ice per game and plus/minus.
Rasmus Dahlin is the team’s second-highest scorer with 63 points. In addition, he leads the club in assists with 49. Like Thompson, Dahlin is having a career-best year in almost every measured statistic.
Buffalo’s goaltending is struggling this year. The team has a .899 save percentage to go with a 3.56 goals against average.
The Sabres play the Edmonton Oilers at home the night before they travel to Long Island to face the Islanders.
NY Islanders breakdown
The New York Islanders are sitting in the No. 4 spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders trail the No. 3 Rangers by seven points.
The Islanders scoring leader is Brock Nelson with 61 points. Nelson’s 27 goals also lead the team. Matthew Barazl, who has the most assists on the club with 37, has the second most points for the Islanders with 51. Unfortunately for the Islanders, Barzal will be out for the foreseeable future. The 25-year-old center suffered a lower-body injury against the Bruins on February 18 when Craig Smith hit him on what appeared to be a knee-on-knee hit. The Islanders are 4-2 with Brazal out of the lineup. After Brazal, Anders Lee has the third most points on the club with 44 (24 goals, 20 assists). The Islanders will miss Brazal, but trade acquisition Bo Horvat should be able to fill his skates. Horvat has picked up eight points in the 13 games he’s played with the Islanders, but he has zero points in his past two games.
The Islanders have one of the best goalies in the league in Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin has quietly put together a 21-18-6 record with a goals against average of 2.34 and a save percentage of .926.
The Islanders last played on Saturday, beating the Detroit Red Wings at home 4-1.
Best bet for Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Islanders
The Islanders will be rested and ready for the Sabres tonight and they have the better goaltending. Those two factors will play a role in the New York Islanders picking up the win in this Eastern Conference clash.
Pick: New York Islanders to beat the Buffalo Sabres.
See below a list of reliable sportsbooks and choose the best one for you.
